Where Are They Now? Carolyn Mitchell '15

October 13, 2015

We chatted with Carolyn about her recent graduation from Simmons and the beginning of her career at Liberty Mutual!

What was your major at Simmons and what is your current job title?

I was a Marketing major at Simmons. Currently, I work in the Personal Insurance Marketing Department as a Marketing Specialist at Liberty Mutual in Boston. I am on the Acquisition Direct Mail team, with a focus on managing the Associations mailing program. This includes groups such as banks, automobile groups, alumni associations, special interest and membership groups.

What’s a typical day like at your job?

This depends on where I am in a mailing cycle. I work with Liberty Mutual account managers who are in charge of relationships with various association groups across the country to ensure our mailings are meeting external stakeholder expectations. I also work with our agency and Liberty Mutual Marketing Analytics partners to review reports and tests. We work together to ensure we are executing deliverables efficiently and on time, so we are maximizing our capability to receive as much of a return on our investments as possible.

When my mail cycle work is slow, I work on stretch projects that provide me with high visibility across the marketing department. These opportunities allow me to work cross-functionally with colleagues on different marketing or personal insurance teams. One of my current projects is focused on collaborating with coworkers to start a Personal Insurance Marketing Department Mentorship Program.

When I'm not working on stretch projects or mail cycles, I do activities that help me develop as a professional. I have traveled to New York for Direct Marketing Association training, participated in peer coaching for newly hired employees, and overseen a project that I then presented to a group of about 100 employees. All of the day-to-day and stretch opportunities are helping me to become a more well-rounded professional in different facets of marketing.

What is your favorite part of your job?

I enjoy collaborating with a variety of stakeholders to ensure that our marketing materials deliver the right message so that we provide our customers with the tools to live safer, more secure lives. That focus on helping people protect what they build, own and cherish, is the underlying reason why I chose to apply to Liberty Mutual. I feel more motivated and rewarded when I know that my work is helping people in some way.

How did you know that Liberty Mutual was a good fit for you?

When I was going to college in Wisconsin prior to transferring to Simmons, I interned at a startup marketing company that had a fun and relaxed atmosphere. I loved the culture and thought a startup or marketing agency was the right path for me. However, I wanted to try a large corporate company while I was still in college to get a different view on the marketing industry. I accepted an internship in the Personal Insurance Affinity Marketing Communications group at Liberty Mutual Insurance in the Summer of 2014. I knew from the first week that this culture is for me.

I enjoy working for a large, reputable company which is striving to help make people’s lives better - both customers and employees. Since I have been working at Liberty, new initiatives have been introduced to increase satisfaction across the workforce including work flexibility arrangements and benefits options. Employees have the ability to continue to advance their careers and explore their interests.

One of the most prominent examples of support that I have felt since my employment here is Liberty Mutual’s flexibility with my internship and full time transition, all while being a student. My summer internship was extended until December of 2014. My manager was willing to make flexible work arrangements with me to ensure I was able to attend all of my classes. In October of that year, the full time position I have now opened up. With the help of my internship manager, my HR representative, and my new manager, I received an exception and was able to accept the full time position despite still being a full time student. My coworkers were extremely helpful, especially during the time where I was balancing a full time course load, the end of my internship, and the beginning of my first full time job.

How did your courses at Simmons prepare you for your job?

I think the biggest takeaway from the School of Management is the business acumen that I learned. I constantly apply lessons and content from the classroom to my day-to-day responsibilities. But it wasn’t only the classroom that helped prepare me for my job. I learned so much from my peers in the School of Management - their stories and experiences constantly impressed me, inspired me and helped to shape the professional that I am today. Another extremely influential aspect of Simmons was the support I received from faculty members both inside and outside of the lectures. I have benefited greatly from their knowledge about not only the subject matter but real life experiences, and advice. They are there to help and be a resource to students and I highly recommend taking advantage of their experience.

During lectures, consider your professors’ examples and lectures in the context of your job, student group, or internship. It’s extremely helpful to learn course content when you can relate to them on a personal level.

How can Simmons students get involved at Liberty Mutual?

One way students can get involved at Liberty Mutual is through a 3-day Summer Leadership Forum that is geared towards rising Juniors. The conference is designed to attract student leaders from campuses around the country. It features Professional Development Activities and Liberty Mutual Insurance Job Opportunities. The Forum has not been posted yet, but check www.libertymutualgroup.com/careers in the upcoming weeks for more information on the conference.

In addition, Liberty Mutual has multiple Internship and Employment opportunities. The HR Department is currently recruiting for about 700 internships and 800 entry level positions across the country for Summer 2016. These positions span many job functions such as Finance, Product, IT, Claims, Underwriting, Actuarial Functions, and Human Resources, among others.

What advice would you give to the current Simmons undergraduate students?

Always advocate for yourself, no matter what the circumstances are. Oftentimes, people feel like they aren’t qualified for a new experience or challenge. I’ve found that the saying is right; you never know until you try. Regardless of the outcome, taking on a new challenge gives you the opportunity to grow professionally and personally not only through the project itself but also by learning to advocate for yourself. Remember, you are your biggest marketing vehicle. The possibilities are endless.